Controlling device for mechanical musical instruments.



E. J. (IL W. A. KRUCK.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1915- 1 1 75,5 3 1 Patented Mar. 14, 1916 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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E. J. & W. A. KRUCK.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1915- A 1,175,531 Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

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E. J. 84 W. A. KRUCK.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. 1 A PPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @FFl ERVIN J. KRUCK AND W'ALTER A. KRUCK, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR MECHANIGAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed March 30, 1915.

To all "Lu/zomz't may concern.

Be it lrnown that we, EnvIN J. KnUoK and Yemen A. KRUCK, citizens of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn or" the city of New York, in the county of Kings, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Controlling Devices for Me chanical Musical instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

This invention relates to devices for con trolling, at the will of the performer, the operation of pneumatically actuated musical instruments and has for its objects to provide improved devices for controlling the air connections between the motor for the music sheet and the main suction or main vindway for the purpose of regulating what may be called the standard tempo of the composition to be rendered, to provide improved auxiliary tempo re ulating devices whereby the tempo may be accelerated or re tarded temporarily, at the will of the per former, with a return to the standard tempo, to provide improved devices whereby a direct connection, without the intervention of a governor, between the motor and the main windway may be effected for the purpose of accomplishing the reroll of the music sheet at high speed, to provide improved devices whereby th instrument shall be silenced through the cutting oil of communication between the player pneumatics and the main windway during the reroll of the music sheet, and generally to improve the con struction and operation of the various devices which are'employed in the accomplishment oi the several functions and 0 3e ations above referred to.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which- Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, with the casing removed, of so much of a player piano as is necessary to enable the application of thinvention thereto to be understood. Fig. 2 is a detail view, in front elevation and on a larger scale, of the motor controlling devices shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the devices shown in Fig. 2. Fig. i is a detail view, in section and on a larger scale, of the silencer valve shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 1s detail view, in section 1 K Lulu.

Patented Mar. 1 1, Serial No. 17,986.

and on a larger scale, of the rewind valve shown in Fig. 1'. Fig. 6 is a detail view in front elevation showing the governor pneumatic and a portion of the windway with the ports through which connection with the controlling devices, etc. is ell'ected. 7 is a detail view in vertical section, on the plane indicated by the line Z? of 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. 8 is a detail view of the same zontal section, the controlling dev ces being also shown. Fig. 9 is a detail view in elevation, of the main tempo valve shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 8, the cylinder in which it is seated being shown in section. Fig. 10 is a similar view but in section on the plane at right angles to that of Fig. 9, the position of the bleed port being indicated by dotter lines. F i 11 is a detail view in section on the plane indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction oi the arrows. Fig. 12 is a detail view in section on the plane indicated by the line 12-12 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 18 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevation 01' the auxiliary tempo valve shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and S, with the cylinder in which it is seated. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the auxiliary tempo valve removed from its seat. Fig. 15 is a view in elevation of the parts shown in 13 as seen from the left.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings one embodii ent of the invention is shown applied to a player piano of usual construction, compris ing a tracker box a, with its appurtenances, a pneumatic motor a, a bank a of player pneumatics with their valves, main bellows a a equalizer bellows a o and operating pedals a The bellows are connected usual with the windway Z) which in turn connected at one end, through the silencing valve 0, hereinafter described, and the c with the common windway of the pneumatics, and at the other end, thr the controlling devices to be described an. with which the invention is particularlv concerned, and the duct 6 with the met 1' a.

The main or standard tempo reguhting device comprises a cylindrical shell or casing (Z which has at a a bleed port which communicates directly with the main channel b of the windwav b, and at (Z a port which communicates, through a duct carried through the windway, and a duct 7)" with the pneumati governor f hereinafter 9 Fig.

parts in horireferred to, and at (Z a port which communicates, through the duct d, with the auxiliary tempo regulator, or accelerating and retarding device, hereinafter referred to. Within the cylindrical shell (Z is mounted a cylindrical, tubular valve 6 which has a port 6' for registration with the bleed port d. The port 6 is varied, as may be desired, by a sliding block 6 which is carried by an adjusting screw 6 threaded in the cap 6 of the valve 6. The valve 6 is also provided, at 6 with a port which is adapted to register with the key-hole port (Z above referred to. The position of the valve 6 is determined by manual adjustment through any suitable means, as by an arm e secured to the stem 6 of the valve and connected by a rod 6 and suitable intermediate connections with the tempo regulating handle 0 The duct (Z* is connected indirectly, as hereinafter described, to the motor and the speed of the motor, except as varied by the auxiliary tempo regulating device, is determined by the volume of air which is drawn through the duct d? and therefore by the extent to which the key-hole port d is opened. by rotary movement of the valve 6. The air which is drawn through the port (1 is drawn mainly from the interior of the hollow cylindrical valve 6 through the connection (Z to the governor, so that the speed of the motor is determined by governed air and is not subject to varying degrees of vacuum within the main windway produced through changes in operation of the pedal. The bleed port d, which communicates directly with the main windway 17 permits a small amount of air to be drawn from the motor, which amount varies with the regulation of the tempo valve and may be carefully regulated by adjustment of the sliding block 6 WVithout such bleed hard pumping may cause the motor to stall through increase of pressure of the music sheet against the tracker bar and of various moving parts of the mechanism which are subjected to the air pressure against those parts in contact with which they move. The bleed, however, affords a direct communication between the motor and the main windway and therefore permits the greater vacuum which, at the time of hard pumping, exists in the windway b and tends to stall the motor, to act directly, but under suitable regulation, upon the motor and therefore to overcome the tendency to stall or perhaps to slow down if it does not actually stall.

The governor f, with which the tempo regulating device (Z communicates through the port (Z and channel 6 6 is substantially of ordinary construction. It comprises an ordinary pneumatic which communicates with the channel 6 6 is provided with an adjustable compensating spring f, to regulate the speed of the motor through adjustment of the governor, and communicates also with the main windway 6 through a channel f and a valve chamber 7, the movable member of the governor bellows carrying the cylindrical valve f which, as the vacuum within the main windway b increases, causing the governor bellows to collapse partly, moves over the mouth of the channel f and thus reduces the vacuum within the bellows. and in the usual manner prevents variation in the speed ofthe motor.

The standard tempo being determined and maintained through control of the speed of the motor in the manner already described,

it becomes desirable to make it possible, at

the will of the performer, to accelerate or retard temporarily the speed of the motor, as the proper performance of the composition may require, with a return to the normal or standard tempo. The auxiliary tempo controlling device, provided for this purpose, is therefore, by preference, arranged between the motor and the main tempo reg ulating device and to act upon the air which has already been regulated by the main tempo regulating device and in which the pressure has been made uniform by the governor, This auxiliary tempo regulating device or accelerating and retarding device, comprises a cylindrical shell or casing g which communicates with the main tempo device (l through the duct (Z above referred to, having a key-hole port 9 for communication with such duct. It is provided also with a key-hole port 9 for communication with the governor f, through a port 5 and the channel b 12*, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and is also provided with a key-hole port g for communication with the motor through a channel 9 and the duct Z). I

Within the cylindrical shell 9 is mounted a cylindrical, hollow valve hwhich is provided with a port it for registration with the port g in the shell, with a port [L2 for registration with the port 9 in the shell, and with a port if for registration with the port in the shell. It will be understood that each of the ports h 7& 77, of the valve h,

as well as the port a of the valve 6, is divided by a narrow bridge for the sake of strength, but such bridges may be neglected so far as the operations of the valves are concerned.

The valve h is subject to manual control by the performer independently of the manual control of the main tempo valve 0, but with provisions for returning it to its neutral or normal position when released by the performer. To this end the stem 71* of the valve h is provided with a gear ]L5 which is engaged by a gear h. The matter is fixed to a short vertical shaft 72,, which is mounted in suitable bearings and has secured thereto an arm h The latter is connected by a link 72, and'suitable intermediate connections with an auxiliary tempo handle it. The arm it carries a stud h which stands between two yielding stops h and 72 which are carried by pivoted arms 72 and 78/ The arms 71 it are pulled normally toward each other by a spring their movement toward each other being limited by fixed stops it and A. It will be obvious that whenever the arm it is moved by the handle h and the intermediate connections to one side or the other and is released it will return to its normal or neutral position and that the vave h in this manner will also be returned to its normal or neutral position and the speed of the motor, which has been accelerated or retarded with respect to the predetermined speed, will also be restored to that predetermined speed. It will be understood that the main tempo regulating valve 6 is shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the position for zero speed of the motor, that is, with the port d and the bleed port (Z completely closed and thereby cutting ofi all suction from the motor, and that when the valve 6 is turned in a clockwise direction the port (Z is opened gradually, thereby starting the motor and increasing its speed and that the bleed port (Z is also opened gradually, whereby direct suction from the main windway is increased in proportion to the increase of speed of the motor, so that the power of the motor is increased with the tempo, as should be the case. It will also be understood that the auxiliary tempo valve h, as shown in Fig. 13 is in its normal or neutral position so that rotation of the valve 72, in a clockwise direction gradually closes the port 9 and the port 9 thereby reducing the iiow from the motor and retarding the tempo, while rotation of the valve it in an anti-clockwise direction, while permitting the ports 9' and g to remain open, by reason of the length of the ports 7/ and k graoually opens the port and thereby increases the flow from the motor to the governor and therefore accelerates the tempo.

As is desiraole in controlling devices for mechanical musical instruments, provision is made in the present case whereby a direct connection is established between the motor and the main windway, in place of the indirect connection from the governor and tempo regulating devices, when the gears of the tracker box are shifted for the reroll of the music sheet. Such shifting of the gears may be effected in any usual or suitable manner, a handle 2' being shown as connected to a link 2 a rock shaft 2'? and a link 2' to the lever 2" by which the gear shifting or clutch shitting is directly eilected. Advantage is taken of the movement of the lever c to initiate the operation of pneumatic devices for placing the motor in direct connection with the windway. The handle 2' is provided with a finger which, in the op erative movement of the handle 2', opens a valve 70 and, through a duct is and a T-coupling 7J admits air to the lower end or" shell or valve chamber 70 below a piston a A perforated partition 70 within the valve chamber 70 supports, normally, a valve 7;, which closes the passage through the partition. The piston 70* is connected with the valve 7: by a rod k, a spring 1 6 acting; serving to hold the against the partition valve it' normally down upon its seat. The

portion of the valve chamber or casing beand the main windway, but as soon as the valve 7c is opened, admitting atmospheric pressure to the under side of the piston 70*, the suction of the main windway lifts the piston 1 s and with it the piston Z1 (which is of smaller diameter) and thereby establishes direct communication between the ports 70 and a through the openings of the partition 70 and therefore direct communication between the motor and the main windway, whereby the motor is driven at high speed during the reroll. It is also desirable that during the reroll, and also at other times when it is desired to emit a portion of the music, to provide means for cutting off the player pneumatics from communication with the main windway. F or this purpose there is provided a button m which is adapted, by pressure, to open a valve m so as to admit atmospheric air to a duct m which may form an extension of the duct 7c. By this means the operation of the pneumatic Z2 to place the motor is direct connection with the main windway, so that the motor shall be driven at high speed, may be initiated at any time, without the operation of the reroll devices.

The operation of the silencing device, or the device for cutting off communication between the player pneumatics and the main windway, is initiated either by movement of the reroll lever i or by pressure on the silencing button m, atmospheric pressure being admitted from either valve Z: or m through the duct is, the T-coupling if, and the duct 0 to the silencing device 0. The latter, as shown in Fig. i, is somewhat smaller in construction to the high speed, direct connection device it. It comprises a cylindrical casing or valve chamber 0 with a nipple 0 for connection to the duct 0 a perforated partition 0 a nipple c for connection with the duct 0' which leads to the common windway of the pneumatic, and a port 0 above the perforated partition 0 communicating directly with the main windway. A piston 0 below the perforated partition 0 has a stem 0 upon which is placed loosely, above the perforated partition 0 a valve 0 The latter is held normally against the seat 0 to cut off communication between the main windway and the duct 0', by a light spring 0 which encircles the stem or rod 0 and rests on a shoulder 0 It is obvious that during ordinary playing the suction of the main windway, acting through the port 0 will pull down the valve 0 from its seat and will act, through the duct 0 upon the player pneumatics as usual. WVhen, however, either the valve or the valve m is opened and atmospheric pressure is admitted to the under side of the valve 0 the suction of the main windway, acting through the perforated partition 0 will lift the piston a and so hold the smaller valve 0 firmly against its seat, cutting off communication between the windway and the player pneumatics.

The purpose of supporting the valve 0 yieldingly on the light spiral spring 0 is to permit the valve to act a an equalizer. It is well known that in the operation of pneumatic piano players it frequently happens that the pulsations of the air current produced by the rapid repetition of a single note can be felt by the performer through the pedals, generally to his annoyance and to the detriment of the musical effect. It is often found that the supporting of the valve 0 yieldingly, so that it flutters in response to the pulsations of the air current,

opening wider as each pulsation approaches its peak and thereby produces a practically uniform tension in the main windway, preventing the transmission of-the pulsations to the pedals.

The operation of each part of the improved devices has been sufficiently explained in connection with the description of the construction, and so far as the manipulation of the devices is concerned it will be understood that the tempo lever 6 is set to give the proper standard tempo for the composition to be performed and that the accelerando and rallentando effects are then produced by movement of the auxiliary tempo lever if" to the right for an accelerando efiect and to the left for a rallentando effect, the lever returning to its neutral position as soon as released. If the music sheet is to be rerolled the reroll lever z is thrown to the left and thereby the shifting of the gears in the tracker box is effected and at the same time the valve 70 is opened and, through the penumatic device 76 the motor is placed in direct connection with the main windway and is thereby operated at high speed, the direct connection being cut off as soon as the reroll lever i is thrown to the right. At the same time that the pneumatic k acts to establish the direct connection, the pneumatic 0 acts to cut off communication between the main windway and the player pneumatics, thereby silencing the instrument, and at the. same time when the pneumatic 70 cuts off direct communication between the motor and the main windway the pneumatic c restores connection between the main windway and the player pneumatics, thereby placing the instrument again in condition for playing. If at any time it is desired to skip any portion of the music sheet, pressure on the button at causes the pneumatic c to cut off communication between the main windway and the player pneumatics and at the same time causes the pneumatic k to place the motor in direct communication with the main windway, so that the motor shall operate at high speed. As soon as pressure on the button m is released the instrument is again restored to playing condition.

It will be understood that except so far as may be pointed out specifically in the claims the invention is not limited to the precise construction and arrangement of parts shown and described herein and that other forms of valves, pneumatics and other devices, well known in the art, might be substituted for those shown and described.

We claim as our invention 1. In amechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a'main windway, a governing device and a tempo controlling valve, air ways being provided from the mot-or to the main wind-way through the tempo valve and the governor and from the motor to the main wind-way through the tempo valve direct to the main wind-w y, whereby the motor is at the same time connected with the main windway through the governor and directly with the main wind-way through the tempo valve.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a main windwav. a governing device and a tempo controlling valve, an air way being provided from the motor to the main wind-way through the tempo valve and the governor and the tempo valve having also a direct connection to the main wind-way.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor. a main windway. a governing device and a tempo controlling valve, the casing of the tempo valve having a port for connection to the motor, a port for connection to the main wind-way through the governor. and a port for direct connection to the main wind-way and the valve body of the tempo valve controlling both the connection from the governor to the motor and the direct connection to the main windway.

In a mechanical musical instrument, the combine on of a motor, a main windwav, a ling device and a tempo con trolling valve, the casing of the tempo valve having a port for connection to the motor, a port for connection to the main wind-Way through the governor, and a port for direct connection to the main wind-way and the valve body of the tempo valve controlling both the connection from the governor to the motor and the direct connection to the main wind-way, independent means being provided for regulating at will the flow of air through said direct connection.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a main windway, a governing device and a tempo controlling valve, the casing of the tempo valve having a port for connection to the motor, a port for connection to the main wind-way through the governor, and a port for direct connection to the main windway and the valve body of the tempo valve controlling both the connection from the governor to the motor and the direct connection to the main windovay, the valve bodv being provided with a port for coaction with the port in the casing which communicates directly with the main wind-way, and being provided also with an adjustable block to vary the area of the last named port in the valve body.

6. In mechanical musical instrument,

the combination of a motor, a main Windway, a governing de *ice and a tempo controlling valve, said tempo cont-rolling valve comprising cylindrical shell having a port for communicating with the motor, a port for communication with the governor, and a port for direct communication with the main wind-way, and a cylindrical, tubular va .ve body hav'--g an opening for communication with the motor, a port for communication with the governor port and a port for communication with the direct port into the main wind-way.

T. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a main Windwav, a. governing device and a tempo con trolling valve, said tempo controlling valve comprising a cylindrical shell having a portfor communication with the motor, a port for communication with the governor, and a port for direct communication with the main wind-way, and a cylindrical, tubular valve body having an opening for communication with the motor, a port for communication with the governor port and a port for communication with the direct port into the main wind-way, the valve body being provided also with an adjustable block for varying the area of the last mentioned port therein.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a main windway, a gove or having an air connection with the main wind-way and an air connection with the motor, a main tempo valve interposed in the connection between the governor and the motor, anc an auxiliary tempo valve also interposed in the connection between the governor and the motor and in connection between the main tempo valve and the motor, whereby the air current between the motor and the governor is subjected to the combined control of the main tempo valve and the auxiliary tempo valv and to the independent control of the auxillary tempo valve.

9. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a main windway, a governor having an air connection with the main wind-way and an air connection with the motor, a main tempo valve comprising a casing having a port for connection to the governor and a port for connection to the hereinafter mentioned auXil iary tempo valve and a valve body for controlling the flow of air from one port to another, and an auxiliary tempo valve comprising a casing having a port for connection to the main tempo valve, a port for connection to the governor and a port for connection to the motor, and a valve body for controlling the flow of air through said ports.

10. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a motor, a main windway, a governor having an air connection with the main windway and an air connection with the motor, main tempo valve comprising a cylindrical casing having a port for connection to the governor and a port for connection to the auxiliary tempo valve hereinafter mentioned, and a rotary tubular valve body, having an opening for communication with the first mentioned port in the casing and a port for communication with the last mentioned port in the casing, and an auxiliary tempo valve comprising a cylindrical valve casing having a port for connection with the main tempo valve, a port for connection with the governor, and a p rt for connection with the motor, and rotary valve body having ports for controlling the flow of air through the ports in the casing.

11. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a main wind-way, a motor, a governor, an air connection from the main wind-way through the governor to the motor, a rotary tempo valve interposed in the connection betv een the governor and the motor, a pivoted arm and connections for operating the valve, and pivoted springpressed arms bearing oppositely against the first named arm to restore it to neutral position after displacement in either direction.

12. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a main Wind-Way, a motor, a governor, an air connection from the main Wind-Way through the governor to the motor, a rotary tempo Valve interposed in the connection between the governor and the motor, a pivoted arm and intermediate gearing for operating the valve, and springpressed arms bearing oppositely against the first named arm to restore it to neutral po- 10 sition-after displacement in either direction. This specification signed and witnessed this 29th day of March, A. D. 1915.

ERVIN J. KRUCK. WALTER A. KRUCK. Signed in the presence of W. B. GREELEY, GHAs. MUHLENFELS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eacli, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

